Agriculture Minister Mohamad Sabu defends home gardening initiatives as one component of a broader national strategy to ensure food supply resilience.
KUALA LUMPUR: Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has clarified that encouraging public self-cultivation does not indicate a lack of broader government strategy on national food security.
He stated that initiatives like the Kebuniti and Household Kitchen Garden programmes form part of a multi-layered approach by his ministry to bolster the resilience of Malaysia’s food supply against global uncertainties.
Mohamad cited the examples of Singapore and Japan, which actively promote urban farming and self-cultivation as an additional safety layer despite having robust food policies and land constraints.
“Do they not understand food policy, or do they fully understand that a culture of self-reliance is part of a national strategy,” he questioned in a Facebook post today, responding to an MP who dismissed such small-scale efforts.
The minister argued the suggestion should not be belittled as it runs parallel to various policy measures addressing potential global supply chain disruptions from geopolitical conflicts.
He highlighted that rising fuel prices from such conflicts could directly impact fishermen without diesel subsidies and increase agri-food logistics costs, thereby pressuring retail prices.
Furthermore, Mohamad noted that rising global urea prices could increase agricultural input costs, while supplies of grain corn and soybeans for animal feed remain dependent on external sources.
“This is the real reality of food security, linked to geopolitics, energy, agricultural inputs, logistics costs and international trade, which is why KPKM has already taken action,” he explained.
Initial measures implemented include increasing the national rice buffer stock managed by Padiberas Nasional Berhad from 200,000 to 300,000 metric tonnes and engaging with PETRONAS to ensure sufficient urea supply at controlled prices.
Other steps involve strengthening the Permanent Food Production Parks, Permanent Ruminant Production Parks, Aquaculture Industrial Zones, Integrated Agricultural Development Areas and farmers’ organisation programmes to boost domestic output.
For the long term, the ministry has outlined nine strategic directions, including local grain corn production, strengthening the ruminant and aquaculture industries, developing the Ayam Saga chicken breed and improving rice productivity.
“I assure that KPKM will continue to work, monitor geopolitical developments, stabilise supply, reduce import dependence and strengthen domestic production,” Mohamad added.
The Sun Malaysia
